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Ortiz considering skipping World Baseball Classic

Ortiz considering skipping World Baseball Classic

David Ortiz speaks with MLB Network after signing a two-year contract to stay with the Boston Red Sox

By Ian Browne
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MLB.com |

BOSTON -- An eager participant for the Dominican Republic in the first two World Baseball Classics, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz might sit out the international showcase event next March.

"I talked to [general manager] Ben [Cherington] and the owners and that might be an interruption, between the things they're planning for me to do next season, and being ready to go for the season next year," said Ortiz. "We'll see how things go."

Ortiz is coming off a right Achilles injury that limited him to 90 games in 2012. That could be part of Boston's reluctance for him to play in the upcoming Classic.

During the 2009 Classic, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis both suffered minor injuries and returned to the Red Sox before the tournament had ended. Daisuke Matsuzaka's entire 2009 season was spent battling health issues, after he won the Most Valuable Player Award while leading Japan to the Classic championship.

Rosters haven't been announced for the '13 Classic.

"The only player I've talked to at all about that is David, and as he said, I'm sure it's something we'll talk more about," Cherington said. "We want to try to protect the team and protect him as best we can. I haven't talked to any other player about it. I'm sure we will sometime this offseason."

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.